Paint, powder & polymer coatings · finish comparison
Cerakote vs Powder Coating
Cerakote and Powder Coating are both paint, powder & polymer coatings finishes; cerakote is the harder surface.
Cerakote
Paint, powder & polymer coatings · $$$ · instant quote
Cerakote is a trademarked ceramic-polymer thin-film coating supplied in product-specific air-cure and oven-cure series.
Powder Coating
Paint, powder & polymer coatings · $$ · instant quote
Powder coating electrostatically deposits dry thermoset powder on conductive parts and melts it into a continuous film.
When to choose which
Choose Cerakote
Cerakote is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Powder coat's.
- H-Series is commonly applied near 25 µm dry-film thickness
- Thin film preserves markings and sharper feature definition than powder coat
- Broad color and low-gloss options support cosmetic hardware
Choose Powder coat
Choose Powder coat when higher film build and robust outdoor metal coverage are preferred.
- Typical finished film is 50–150 µm
- No liquid solvent is needed for film formation
- Tough decorative coverage suits fabricated metal
What the numbers say
- Cerakote is the harder surface.
- Powder coat is the lower-cost option ($$).
- Cerakote is the thinner coating (20–30 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
- Cerakote tolerates more heat (200 °C continuous).
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Cerakote | Powder coat |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 83 Very good | 83 Very good |
| Surface hardness / wear | 27 Low | 14 Minimal |
| Cosmetic quality | 88 Excellent | 85 Excellent |
| Lubricity | 30 Low | 15 Low |
| Cost | 55 $$$ | 25 $$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Cerakote | Powder coat |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 20–30 µm | 50–150 µm |
| Salt-spray test duration | 500–1,000 h | 500–1,000 h |
| Max service temperature | 200 °C | 150 °C |
| Electrical | Insulating | Insulating |
| Colours | black, gray, tan, green, blue, red, custom product color | RAL colors, custom color, clear |
| Relative cost | Premium ($$$) | Standard ($$) |
| Added lead time | 4–8 working days | 3–7 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Cerakote | Powder coat |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Yes | Yes |
| DMLS / SLM | Yes | With care |
| Stainless Steel | Yes | With care |
| Steel | Yes | Yes |
| Titanium | Yes | With care |
| Brass | With care | With care |
| Copper Alloy | With care | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | With care | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
| FDM | No | Limited |
| MJF | Limited | Limited |
| Polymer | Limited | Limited |
| SLA | No | Limited |
| SLS | Limited | Limited |
Cerakote vs Powder coat — frequently asked
What is the difference between Cerakote and Powder coat?
Cerakote and Powder Coating are both paint, powder & polymer coatings finishes; cerakote is the harder surface. Powder coat is the lower-cost option ($$). Cerakote is the thinner coating (20–30 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
When should I use Cerakote instead of Powder coat?
Conversely: choose Powder coat when higher film build and robust outdoor metal coverage are preferred.
Is Cerakote or Powder coat cheaper?
Powder coat is the lower-cost finish ($$ against $$$ for Cerakote) among the finishes FabDigit quotes. Both are priced per part with a lot minimum; the exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.
Do Cerakote and Powder coat protect equally against corrosion?
On paper, yes: both are rated 500–1,000 h in neutral salt spray (ASTM B117 or the qualification hours of the governing specification). In service the difference comes from sealing, thickness class and the substrate alloy rather than from the choice between the two.